Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

I didn't realize when I first started reading the exquisite novels of Ron Rash that I had missed his very first novel....this one!  I can't even fully describe how much I love this author's words....his descriptions of North and South Carolina....the people, the environment, the speech.....all of it is so true and real.  But the thing I really started thinking on with this novel was how little credit we give people for having very deep thoughts and truly philosophical ways of viewing the world.  Simple people with simple thoughts out there working the land?  Not so much.  My favorite part of the book was reading how Billy thought of his wife Amy working in the house while he was out in the fields as he said "my thoughts were often upon her" and how even though their work was different they were working together toward the same goals: home, family, a future.  A simple sentiment that touched my heart in a very real way.  A truly beautiful book.  And it does

I just felt I had to answer the call back when this list was posted by my favorite local morning radio personalities: Bob & Sheri .  It was actually completed by Max & Todd who are loveable guys on the show with wonderful laughs and jokes and fairly good taste in music.  And for the most part, I agree with the list.....well up until the 90's maybe.  But I still had to make my own list.  Hello?  Have we met?  Do you read this blog?  Do you KNOW my feelings about music? Grant it, I'm not always much into what other people might call romantic songs, but isn't romance like beauty?  All in the eye (or ear) of the beholder?  Yeah, I thought so too.... 1960's 1. "Bring It On Home to Me" by Sam Cooke A man pleading for his lady to come back home.  Sexy, romantic and pleading.  Sam at his best before he died much too young. 2. "Lay, Lady, Lay" by Bob Dylan Probably the most well-known track of Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" m

So I recently read the un-put-downable Mildred Pierce in one weekend, and now I just simply must see the film starring the great Joan Crawford !  Seriously!  How scathing and wonderful is this novel?  How awful is the daughter?  How tough is Miss Mildred?  I loved the Californianess of it all.....I almost felt like I could feel and see the dreamy landscape around me.....felt like I was in a David Hockney painting. I also felt like I knew what was going to happen, but still couldn't wait to get there.  Turns out, I kinda knew but not really.  That Veda was a real scoundrel.  Wow.....there just really aren't books written like this anymore.  Could there really be?

( Re-post from a time when the word "divorce" still hurt me quite a bit.) Graceland by Paul Simon The Mississippi Delta was shining Like a National guitar I am following the river Down the highway Through the cradle of the civil war I'm going to Graceland Graceland In Memphis Tennessee I'm going to Graceland Poorboys and Pilgrims with families And we are going to Graceland My traveling companion is nine years old He is the child of my first marriage But I've reason to believe We both will be received In Graceland She comes back to tell me she's gone As if I didn't know that As if I didn't know my own bed As if I'd never noticed The way she brushed her hair from her forehead And she said losing love Is like a window in your heart Everybody sees you're blown apart Everybody sees the wind blow I'm going to Graceland Memphis Tennessee I'm going to Graceland Poorboys and Pilgrims w